Principle 5: The Kingdom of God teaches a proper relationship to authority.
We are constantly moving between in authority and under authority in our relationships with people whether they be friendships, work relationships, public or private office. The degree to which we manage these relationships is the degree to which we have success in life.
God himself is involved with various institutions of authority around the world. The first institution of authority is the individual. Individuals who take responsibility for governing themselves under the ruler-ship of God (self control) can change (or reform) the second institution of authority - families. Families who in turn operate under righteous authority influence their churches, and churches impact nations, which must also be under righteous authority.
When authority drifts toward a dictator and away from the rule of law people learn to adapt themselves to the arbitrary whims of those in power. This wreaks devastation both in the psyche and the structure of society and gives way to corruption. When the pendulum swings back to the rule of law, however the law abiding citizens willingly uphold that law. When a nation or a people allow their laws to rule them, rather than the personality of the chiefs, kings or other rulers, it's for the betterment of society. Self-government is always better than institutional government. Both are necessary but nations advance more rapidly according to the degree of self-governance. Believers who studiously attempt to walk according to God's law understand how to be in authority and under authority in any given situation in life. These believers become great citizens, in fact, they become what the Bible describes as salt and light to a tasteless and dark world.
